” — there are such things as vampires; some of us have evidence that they exist.” So wrote Bram Stoker in his now famous horror novel Dracula. This was the first work of fiction to pick up on the centuries-old legends of vampires and transform that incarnate Prince of Evil, Count Dracula, into a ‘hero’ of novels, plays and particularly, films.
The two researchers, McNally and Florescu, have delved through the layers of legend and myth to the origins of the legend, to Vlad Dracul, a 15th century nobleman of Wallachia, nicknamed ‘the Impaler because of his delight in impaling his enemies, alive, on wooden stakes.
The authors trace the intertwined reality and myth to the twentieth century cult, revealing much that is fascinating, much that is truly horrific.

The source for many horror novels (notably Peter Tremayne’s Dracula Unborn), this is a well regarded study of Vlad the Impaler, the ‘real’ Dracula, which includes translations of several 15th Century documents and purports to tell the story of Vlad the Impaler. Also includes a 16 page photo spread and handy checklist of Countess Bathory, Stoker and Dracula in film and literature.